Mystery remains as to when a grandfather was exposed to lethal asbestos which contributed to his death.

John Cheetham, who was known as Jack, of Dixon Drive, Chelford, spent most of his working life as a salesman. But he also had jobs at a garden nursery, as a mechanic, and as a driver in the Army.

He survived two heart attacks and lymphatic cancer before developing chest problems in June this year.

A scan at Macclesfield Hospital revealed the 81-year-old had lung cancer. Days later he had another heart attack and died.

Tests showed that the cancer was caused by a combination of smoking cigarettes in his younger days and exposure to asbestos.

But the inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall on December 2 could not determine when exactly Jack came into contact with the deadly asbestos fibres.

Alan Moore, assistant coroner for Cheshire, concluded that Jack died of a mixture of natural causes and industrial disease.

He said: “The exposure to asbestos has occurred at some point over his working life, but we cannot say where. We heard hearsay evidence of potential exposure at a garden nursery but it may have also happened during his work as a mechanic or in the army.”

Jack grew up in Bowdon where he was part of a big family of four brothers and two sisters.

He married Laura in 1960 and went onto have one daughter Kim and three grandchildren: Rebecca, Gil and Luke.

In his early life he loved shooting, walking, climbing and fishing,

But his enthusiasm for the fishing spread and eventually Laura caught the bug. They would spent hours side by side fishing in the pools around the area.

Jack was also a keen bowler and was a member of clubs in Chelford and Bowdon and was even picked for the county team.

After the hearing, his granddaughter Rebecca May, 26, said: “My granddad will always be remembered for his storytelling. He especially loved talking about his time in the Army where he would drive the ration truck and fool around, and his childhood.

“My grandparents had a love for fishing and would head out for the day whatever the weather. He taught [Laura] so well, she ended up often catching more than he did. He will be truly missed by all.”